#liftingrestrictions

Eleven days into 2022 and my anxiety is up and down once more. Decisions being taken by the UK PM and dealing with autism and anxiety around Covid-19, continue to send my mental health into overdrive.

I and many like me, need the UK government to keep the physical procedures in place so that we can stay protected. We may become ‘political guinea pigs,’ with the UK PM set to outline his plans for the UK for us ‘to live with Covid-19.’ I am hoping this pie in the sky decision, will be another u-turn.

For the many people who are high risk and who are already for the most part self-isolating, we may not stay protected if this happens. We, like many others, can still catch Covid and long-covid through meet ups, without the necessary precautionary measures in place.

Two years in and there will be thousands of people who inevitably will be less protected now, unless they continue to vaccinate and already that’s a sticking point with many. Many people were settled on a double-jab and the mandatory booster, but are now beginning to re-think the jabs. For those who are continuing to vaccinate, they will be on their fourth vaccine.

If the papers are to be believed, many of the provisions in place such as LFTs and self-isolation are going to be reduced, or withdrawn, as the country is being told to live with Covid. People like me who rely on lateral flow tests to meet up with family will struggle to successfully do that if the mandatory tests are scrapped.

Although they are still expected to be used in high risk settings such as care homes, hospitals and schools. Cost cutting measures such as these, will affect our physical and mental wellbeing lives in Covid, for those who are no longer eligible. (Source: https://uk.news.yahoo.com).

Even if you’re not high risk, it is going to prove difficult. Any potential chaos of the PM’s decisions, and of the likely human and economic cost if and when restrictions are lifted, may come later with the further rising of Covid cases and people falling foul of the virus and who are not in a position to work. It is difficult to see how what is intended, can be anything but good.

In the meantime, people like me who are high risk, rely on LFTs to keep us safe, so that family are free to come and go without the risk of spreading infection. Not everyone with this test, will know if they are positive for Covid, until they present with symptoms. With the test and trace also having gone by the wayside, LFT’s are our lifeline.

Also, countries who have already relaxed restrictions such as the Netherlands and Israel have reimposed social restrictions again, so we may have more reimposed social restrictions again. (Source: https://www.theguardian.com)

What is happening is a dangerous start to 2022, but each of us have the power to rise above. When it comes to Covid, being mindful is everything. It is important to take control of our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

I need to think about and look at Covid-19 differently, so that I am more chilled and less anxious about it. For those who are being careful, we need to continue to tell ourselves that our life is now on continual hold until the government stops putting his party before the people; for the government to stop thinking that one size fits all as far as the jabs are concerned. The stats show otherwise.

I know that understanding my life is now permanently on hold, is the first step. Truthfully, I’ve struggled with that, but I know I can’t change the politicians who have made it clear, they’re not willing to keep the precautionary measures in place to keep us safe. But now you have to ask, what kind of government does that?

In a country that is supposed to be fair and equal, there are now minority groups who are institutionalised, marginalised in the pandemic. Please spare a thought for those who aren’t, because of lifting restrictions.

Why are we not hearing from disabled groups?

Why are we not hearing from disabled groups lobbying, so their members can play an active part in society instead of them having to continue to self-isolate? Where are the voices looking after people with disabilities and the vulnerable, whose rights and interests have been adversely affected by lifting restrictions?

Why do we not we hear about groups, lobbying for those interests, as lifting measures has widened and deepened the exclusion of disabled and the vulnerable from society? It is incredulous that politicians in the UK, sit back and do nothing.

Scope’s Coronavirus Disability Report findings are:

“Half of disabled people (46%) say they have had issues getting essential items;

63% of disabled people are concerned they won’t get the hospital treatment they need if they become ill with coronavirus;

Over a quarter 28% feel forgotten or ignored by the government;

A quarter of disabled people 26% say they have faced negative attitudes from other shoppers;

Nearly 9 in 10 disabled adults (86%) reported they are very worried or somewhat worried about the effect the pandemic is having on their lives;

6 out of 10 disabled people (59%) are currently not leaving their homes;

More than a third of disabled people (38.5%) feel extremely concerned about their mental health and wellbeing if they need to self-isolate for more than 3 months;

40% are extremely concerned about making medical appointments if they have to self-isolate for more than 3 months.” (https://www.scope.org.uk)

Reduced independence and anxiety are also cited as being an issue. Three months has now turned into years. I am part of the 86% very worried about the effect the pandemic is having on my life. It is why I write about it so much on my blog. I am ‘home.’ My life is now centered around my home.

The findings are stark and yet nothing is being done about it. It is not enough for charities to write about the stats and not lobby the Government, to effect change for those who need them to. It’s a human basic right.

Forced to stay in our homes to keep safe

With lifting restrictions, I like many thousands of disabled people are now institutionalised, cut off from society. I still ask myself the question how can this be? Without us realising, disabled people are now marginalised and institutionalised. But we all have the right to be able to live our lives.

Feeling exposed

I have never felt so unsafe and exposed, as I do today, having to navigate the pandemic, living with a disability and with no restrictions to keep me safe. Also, feeling hemmed in and locked-up is difficult and continues to make me feel anxious; not knowing when I can comfortably and safely get back into my life.

Trying to find an acceptance

I would like to think I can find an acceptance on most things, but how do you get your head around the fact that you deal with a disability and through lifting restrictions, you are home?

Restrictions lifted in the UK, doesn’t mean Covid-19 is done. It is because the UK government have lifted restrictions that we need to keep those in place.

It has become even more important, because we’re not safe. Freedom of movement can only work if we continue to keep ourselves safe. It is also because I am home that I couldn’t be surer. But it is not enough for me to be sure, it needs to bring a different thinking from each of us, to understand that Covid-19 needs to take precedent.

With or without the Covid-19 vaccine you are still at risk of catching Covid-19. The vaccine, which was hailed the panacea vaccine, the vaccine that was set to give us our life back, isn’t allowing us to go that far. Whether you are vaccinated or not, you still can’t get back into your life, because you can still catch Covid-19.

When the government first talked about the vaccine at the beginning of roll-out, we were assured safe passage. It turns out, it’s not like that at all.